PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The long-awaited Shoprite Usave grocery outlet in the Crags is officially open and fully operational today, Thursday 25 June, marking a major milestone for residents who have long relied on informal trading options for essential goods.
At the same time, Bitou Municipality has confirmed that plans to establish a similar retail outlet in Kranshoek remain in progress, with a new land lease bid expected to be re-advertised in July.
According to the municipality's director of planning and development, Smangaliso Mtengwane, a previous bid for the Kranshoek site was published, but received no responsive submissions.
He confirmed that the municipality was preparing to issue a fresh bid in July, and will communicate the advert details to stakeholders once finalised.
He added that municipal land allocation must follow formal procurement processes and cannot be fast-tracked outside the regulatory frameworks.
Meanwhile, Bitou's mayor, Jessica Kamkam, confirmed that the Usave store in the Crags is scheduled to open on 25 June, a development widely welcomed by community members and civic stakeholders.
Civic accountability advocate Baren Saayman said the opening of the store represents a significant improvement in access to affordable and regulated food retail for residents of the Crags and surrounding areas, including Kranshoek.
He said these communities have for years depended on informal spaza shops, often facing inconsistent pricing, limited consumer protection, and concerns over expired or unsafe goods.
Saayman added that a regulated retailer such as Usave would ensure standardised pricing, food safety compliance and consumer accountability, allowing households to access basic goods without exploitation or inflated costs.
He emphasised that the development is particularly important for low-income households that spend a disproportionate share of their income on transport to larger towns for groceries.
He also raised his concern about the timing of informal retail contraction following the national immigration enforcement measures, warning that vulnerable households could face reduced access to nearby food sources if alternatives are not established quickly.
While welcoming the progress in the Crags, Saayman stressed that Kranshoek remains without a formal retail outlet and urged both the municipality and Shoprite Group to prioritise the area once the July bid process opens.
He described the store opening as a long-overdue step towards improving food access and local economic development, while noting that further work is required to ensure equitable retail infrastructure across all Bitou communities.
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